Masterclass: Khaled Alesmael, ‘Rooted in Words: Writing in Your Mother Tongue While in Exile’
This event is part of our programme supporting Global Majority and Underrepresented Writers. Khaled Alesmael will also deliver a public lecture—‘The Power of Representation: Why Syrian Queer Stories Matter in a Global Context’—on Tuesday 11th February at 5:30pm.

In this masterclass, Khaled Alesmael draws on his own experiences of writing his much-acclaimed queer works Selamlik (2018) and Gateway to the Sea (2020) in his native Arabic while exiled in Sweden and the United Kingdom. In so doing, this session will explore the profound emotional, cultural, and intellectual connections writers maintain with their mother tongue while in exile. Khaled asks:

How might writing in our native language serve as a bridge to our homeland, a preservation of our identity, and an act of resistance against erasure?

Khaled Alesmael, Selamlik (Danish)Khaled proudly writes in his mother tongue, Arabic. However, his works have not yet been published in Arabic-speaking countries due to widespread disapproval of homosexuality and restrictive censorship in non-democratic regimes. However, his work has garnered significant success through its translation into Swedish, German, Danish, and English.

The masterclass will also explore the complexities of navigating the publishing industry and the intricate art of translation. Khaled will discuss the joys and challenges of sharing his work across linguistic and cultural borders. Attendees will be invited to reflect on key questions, including:

How can we preserve the essence of our work when it crosses linguistic and cultural borders?

What are the unique dynamics of publishing such literature in our globalised world?

This session offers an invaluable opportunity to learn from a writer whose work challenges boundaries and celebrates the resilience of identity through language.

Preparatory Reading:

This masterclass requires no preparatory reading. Attendees are invited to read Khaled’s Selamlik (2018), which will be available to purchase following Khaled’s public lecture at 5:30 pm.

Speaker Details:

Khaled AlesmaelKhaled Alesmael is a Syrian author, journalist, and short filmmaker based in London. An acclaimed queer writer, he is known for his evocative storytelling and commitment to amplifying Arab queer voices. His debut novel, Selamlik (2018), regarded as one of the first homoerotic perspectives on the Syrian war, tells the story of Furat’s journey from war-torn Syria to Sweden as a refugee, reflecting many parallels to Khaled’s own experiences. The book, whose title evokes hope for change and freedom, has been widely celebrated as a powerful account of emergent Arab queer identity, with numerous critics drawing comparisons between Khaled and Jean Genet’s writing. Selamlik has been translated into English, Swedish, and German. Selamlik has received notable acclaim as a ‘Future Classic’ (Dagans Khaled Alesmael, SelamlikNyheter): it was shortlisted for the German SKOUTZ Award in 2021, and in December 2024, its English translation was named among Gay’s The Word’s ‘Books of the Year’.

Khaled’s second book, Gateway to the Sea (2020), explores the lives of ten gay men from the Middle East and North Africa, providing unique and deeply personal narratives of identity and displacement. Beyond his literary contributions, Alesmael’s work as a journalist has appeared in outlets such as New Statesman and taz, and he frequently lectures on queer literature and Arab identity.

Further Details and Contacts:

This hybrid event is free and open to all; however, registration is required. There are only 25 in-person spaces and 25 online places available. Spaces will be confirmed one week before the event, with priority given to those who identify as members of the Global Majority or as underrepresented writers (broadly conceived). This event will not be recorded.
Date: 11 February 2025, 14:00
Venue: Wolfson College, Linton Road OX2 6UD
Venue Details: The Buttery; accessibility information available here: https://www.wolfson.ox.ac.uk/accessibility-wolfson-college
Speaker: Khaled Alesmael (Author, journalist, film maker)
Organising department: Oxford Centre for Life-Writing
Organisers: Dr Eleri Anona Watson (University of Oxford), Oxford Centre for Life Writing
Organiser contact email address: eleri.watson@ell.ox.ac.uk
Host: Oxford Centre for Life Writing
Booking required?: Required
Booking url: https://oclw.web.ox.ac.uk/event/masterclass-rooted-in-words-writing-in-your-mother-tongue-while-in-exile
Cost: Free
Audience: Public
Editors: Alice Little, Eleri Watson